What Does “Weary of sb” Mean?
“Weary of sb” means feeling tired, bored, or frustrated with someone because of their behavior or actions over time.
Introduction
The phrase “Weary of sb” is a common English expression used to describe a feeling of exhaustion or annoyance toward someone. When you are “weary of sb,” it means that you have grown tired or fed up with that person, often due to repeated unpleasant experiences or interactions. Understanding the Weary of sb meaning helps learners express emotions about relationships clearly and naturally. This phrasal verb is useful in both spoken and written English, especially when discussing feelings about friends, family, or colleagues.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Weary of sb (somebody)
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To feel tired or bored with someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Weary of sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot place words between “weary” and “of.” Here are the common patterns:
- Subject + be + weary of + somebody
- Subject + feel + weary of + somebody
Examples:
- She is weary of her boss.
- They feel weary of their neighbors’ complaints.
How to Use Weary of sb?
You use “weary of sb” when you want to express that you are emotionally or mentally tired of someone. It often implies frustration or boredom caused by someone’s repeated actions or behavior. It is mostly used in formal or semi-formal contexts but can be used in everyday conversations as well.
Commonly, “weary of sb” is followed by a noun or pronoun referring to a person (e.g., him, her, them, John, my friends).
Examples
Imagine you have a friend who always complains. After a while, you might say:
- I am weary of him always talking about his problems.
- She grew weary of her brother’s constant teasing.
- They became weary of their teacher’s strict rules.
- He felt weary of his coworkers’ gossip.
- We are weary of the same arguments every day.
These examples show how “Weary of sb in a sentence” can describe tiredness or frustration with a person.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse “weary of sb” with other similar phrases. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: I am weary him.
- Correct: I am weary of him.
- Incorrect: She is weary with her friend.
- Correct: She is weary of her friend.
Remember, “weary” is followed by “of,” not “with” or no preposition at all.
Differences / Synonyms
“Weary of sb” is similar to phrases like “tired of sb” or “fed up with sb,” but there are subtle differences:
- Weary of sb: Emphasizes emotional or mental tiredness, often with a formal tone.
- Tired of sb: More casual, simply means bored or annoyed.
- Fed up with sb: Stronger feeling of frustration or anger.
Example: “She is weary of his excuses” sounds more formal than “She is fed up with his excuses.”
Common Collocations
People often use “weary of sb” with nouns that describe relationships or groups. Some common collocations include:
- Weary of a friend: Feeling tired of a friend’s behavior.
- Weary of a partner: Feeling bored or frustrated in a romantic relationship.
- Weary of a colleague: Being emotionally drained by a coworker.
- Weary of family members: Feeling worn out by family conflicts.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of weary of sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “weary of sb”:
Anna: I don’t know how much longer I can deal with Mark’s complaints.
Ben: You sound weary of him.
Anna: Yes, I’m really tired of always listening to the same problems.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence with the correct phrase:
After months of arguing, she finally became _______ her noisy neighbors.
- a) tired with
- b) weary of
- c) fed up to
Answer: b) weary of
FAQ
- Q: Can “weary of sb” be used in informal speech?
A: Yes, but it is more common in formal or written English.
- Q: Is “weary of sb” the same as “tired of sb”?
A: They are similar, but “weary of sb” sounds more formal and emotional.
- Q: Can “weary” be used without “of”?
A: When expressing tiredness of someone, “weary” is usually followed by “of.”
- Q: Is “weary of sb” only negative?
A: Yes, it expresses frustration or boredom with a person.
- Q: Can “weary of sb” refer to physical tiredness?
A: No, it refers to emotional or mental tiredness, not physical.
